My Favorite Book

Like all other writers, at every personal appearance I’m asked the same things: “Who’s your favorite writer? What’s your favorite book?”

My answer has come to be, “It depends on which week it is.” I have read so many books and found so much to admire that I have no one clear response. Sure, I have writers that I often recommend to people who like my books. But that too can depend on which books of mine they’ve enjoyed the most. If they’ve liked my conventional mysteries, I can safely recommend any of my blogbuddies on this site. Or I can advise them to read Margaret Maron, or Carolyn Hart, or Eve Sandstrom, or Denise Swanson.

If they’re readers who like something edgier, I can tell them what pleasure I’ve found in Laura Lippman, or Robert Crais, or Lee Child, or Karin Slaughter, or Charlie Huston.

If you tell me you like writers who write both mysteries and science fiction, well, I’ve got a list of those, starting with Barbara Hambly and stretching a mile.

Out and out urban fantasy? Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Carrie Vaughn, Kevin Hearne, Benedict Jacka, Mike Carey . . .

Much edgier fantasy? Oh, gosh, just a few: Richard Kadrey, Lillian Saintcrow, Rob Thurman, Laurell K. Hamilton.

And that’s just living writers. Don’t get me started on dead ones.

So please, if you see me in person, be prepared for a long answer if you ask me who my favorite writer is.

And if you really care who I’m reading, you can find out what books I’ve read for the past two years; at least, the ones I’ve enjoyed. Just visit my website (www.charlaineharris.com) and click on BOOK & BLOG. You can find out there.

There are so many great books out there. The only problem, as I see it, is finding the time to read them.

Charlaine Harris

Comments

[Sally Schmidt]

I started to think it was just because I was getting older that I couldn't immediately come up with a favorite like I did when I was young, but I have realized I have many, many favorites. Thanks for the pointer to your BOOK & BLOG.

[Charlaine Harris]

Sally, it's not absence of memory, it's the presence of so MUCH memory, that makes us hesitate. We've read so many good books! It's impossible to pick one and say, "That's my absolute favorite."

[Kristopher]

So true Charlaine. As a book blogger, I get asked this question all the time. And I don't think I have ever given the same exact answer twice. It all depends on who is doing the asking and why.

Typically, I will gravitate towards something I have read most recently (such as We Were Liars by E. Lockhart or Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer) because they are most fresh in my mind.

Sometimes, I will spew off those classic books that most most people have already read (Jane Eyre or The Giver).

Some books like Donna Tartt's The Secret History, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander or Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind are almost always mentioned.

But this still means other favorites didn't jump immediately to mind, but are no less wonderful. Ask me tomorrow and I'll give you a few others, I say.